Speculation: Armchair GM - Offseason Thread (Summer Edition)

[Monstershockey]

I wasn't in the majority to trade off Korpi, just like I am not in the majority to move Elvis.

Again, the first season after the tragedy Elvis' numbers were fine, there was no issue with him and Legace being together. All of a sudden last year happens and it becomes Elvis dealing with this or that, and he and Legace are too close and we need to split them up.

I am sure Kiv's death had an effect, but if we are this far removed from the incident, and it is still having a big effect on Elvis, he may need to step away from the game a bit and get his mental well-being together. Kind of what Tex did. He may need more help than he thinks.

Sorry @CBJx614, I forgot to quote you on that.

 

[CBJx614]

I wasn't in the majority to trade off Korpi, just like I am not in the majority to move Elvis.

Again, the first season after the tragedy Elvis' numbers were fine, there was no issue with him and Legace being together. All of a sudden last year happens and it becomes Elvis dealing with this or that, and he and Legace are too close and we need to split them up.

I am sure Kiv's death had an effect, but if we are this far removed from the incident, and it is still having a big effect on Elvis, he may need to step away from the game a bit and get his mental well-being together. Kind of what Tex did. He may need more help than he thinks.

Sorry @CBJx614, I forgot to quote you on that.

While he had more wins last season, his overall numbers were still trending down in comparison to previous seasons(much larger sample size) but I also think you're overlooking the impact the death threats on his wife and newborn son f***ed with his head.

Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins on struggles, verbal abuse: 'This is a new life challenge'

Blue Jackets' Merzlikins fighting through slump, allegation that fans verbally assaulted his wife and son: 'They have nothing to do with this'

www.dispatch.com

The situation was a gut punch for Merzlikins, who has enjoyed closely interacting with fans and often feeds off the “energy” of the crowd. It’s a different vibe this year.

“I didn’t expect something to happen like that,” he said. “My family, my wife and my kid, they are out. They have nothing to do with this. They don’t have to pay the price for it. I didn’t expect that.”

I mean think about having a new born son and you and your wife decide that you don't want her or your son coming to watch you at home because you're terrified for their lives.

 

[Monstershockey]

While he had more wins last season, his overall numbers were still trending down in comparison to previous seasons(much larger sample size) but I also think you're overlooking the impact the death threats on his wife and newborn son f***ed with his head.

Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins on struggles, verbal abuse: 'This is a new life challenge'

Blue Jackets' Merzlikins fighting through slump, allegation that fans verbally assaulted his wife and son: 'They have nothing to do with this'

www.dispatch.com

I mean think about having a new born son and you and your wife decide that you don't want her or your son coming to watch you at home because you're terrified for their lives.

That does suck, but it comes with the territory. Unfortuneately he isn't the first, and won't be the last. There are too many people out there that take sports way too seriously, add in the gambling factor and now these guys are costing people money. It will keep getting worse.

 

[squashmaple]

That does suck, but it comes with the territory. Unfortuneately he isn't the first, and won't be the last. There are too many people out there that take sports way too seriously, add in the gambling factor and now these guys are costing people money. It will keep getting worse.

The fact the Fanatics Sportsbook is going into the vacant space by Buca (presumably where the dueling piano bar was?) really bothers me. I grew up at the track up at Northfield because family in the horse business and it's so... sleazy.

 

[majormajor]

The fact the Fanatics Sportsbook is going into the vacant space by Buca (presumably where the dueling piano bar was?) really bothers me. I grew up at the track up at Northfield because family in the horse business and it's so... sleazy.

If you've ever given money to somebody for their kids to have food and then they lose it on sports betting, it's hard to see this as fun and games.

 

[Monstershockey]

The fact the Fanatics Sportsbook is going into the vacant space by Buca (presumably where the dueling piano bar was?) really bothers me. I grew up at the track up at Northfield because family in the horse business and it's so... sleazy.

I don't know if that is better or worse than having the sportsbook right in the arena. At our arena they took away a season ticket holder lounge to put in the sportsbook. Its open when there are no games, not sure if it can be accessed during games if you don't have a ticket for the event. I don't even know what it looks like as I haven't been in it.

I have to admit I like the sportsbook at the MGM casino by us. My girlfriend likes the slots, and I don't like to gamble,so I'll go in the sportsbook with some food and a drink and watch whatever games are on. It is nice and has a bigger tv than I have at home. Plus, its interesting watching people cheer, wondering if they are cheering the game or thier bets.

 

[Youngguns1380]

I am an analytics person and don’t gamble. I will never visit the establishment and their was a reason the casino was pushed to the other end of town and kept away from the arena district. I don’t understand the appeal and wished it wasn’t there but to each their own.

 

[MAHJ71]

For me its just blah to see Fanatics get another piece of something, whether its merch, jerseys, and now sports betting...

Its just nonstop with them and personally I find their merch to be equivalent to garbage in quality so I have no faith that they will do anything else that actually benefits me as a fan.

 

[MAHJ71]

On a positive note I’m looking forward to another season of JG.. Thankful he ended up in Columbus.

 

[GoJackets1]

On a positive note I’m looking forward to another season of JG.. Thankful he ended up in Columbus.

Lol, in the infamous Pens OT goal, I never noticed but Boqvist has a huge dumbfounded smile on his face as he hits Johnny with the pass. Wondering what the f*** that Pens line change was I’m sure.

 

[CBJx614]

Lol, in the infamous Pens OT goal, I never noticed but Boqvist has a huge dumbfounded smile on his face as he hits Johnny with the pass. Wondering what the f*** that Pens line change was I’m sure.

I was there for that, as frustrating as it was, the energy in the arena to finish the season bottom 3 was pretty electric.

 

[DJA]

For me its just blah to see Fanatics get another piece of something, whether its merch, jerseys, and now sports betting...

Its just nonstop with them and personally I find their merch to be equivalent to garbage in quality so I have no faith that they will do anything else that actually benefits me as a fan.

This. Excited for a sportsbook but Fanatics will find a way to f*** it up

 

[thebus88]

While he had more wins last season, his overall numbers were still trending down in comparison to previous seasons(much larger sample size) but I also think you're overlooking the impact the death threats on his wife and newborn son f***ed with his head.

Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins on struggles, verbal abuse: 'This is a new life challenge'

Blue Jackets' Merzlikins fighting through slump, allegation that fans verbally assaulted his wife and son: 'They have nothing to do with this'

www.dispatch.com

I mean think about having a new born son and you and your wife decide that you don't want her or your son coming to watch you at home because you're terrified for their lives.

I still highly doubt this actually happened the way Elvis and his wife think it happened.

I could believe almost anything else said,
OTHER than the comments apparently about the baby. That alone makes me question the entire thing.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m not. Being a professional athlete or the wife of an athlete, doesn’t mean you wouldn’t lie about something. At the very least, while it’s believable she heard something negative said about Elvis, I think something was misheard or misinterpreted and blown WAY out of proportion. IMO

 

[Cowumbus]

I still highly doubt this actually happened the way Elvis and his wife think it happened.

Agreed.

Maybe I’m wrong and people are more terrible than I imagined, but I think if a fan said those things loud enough for Mrs. Merzlinkins to hear, some other fan would step in and say that it is not okay..

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I still highly doubt this actually happened the way Elvis and his wife think it happened.

I could believe almost anything else said,
OTHER than the comments apparently about the baby. That alone makes me question the entire thing.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m not. Being a professional athlete or the wife of an athlete, doesn’t mean you wouldn’t lie about something. At the very least, while it’s believable she heard something negative said about Elvis, I think something was misheard or misinterpreted and blown WAY out of proportion. IMO

Probably the people who believe them are just predisposed to do so because of their opinion of Elvis as a player.

 

[Monk]

people are more terrible than I imagined

I think unfortunately it's this one

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Agreed.

Maybe I’m wrong and people are more terrible than I imagined, but I think if a fan said those things loud enough for Mrs. Merzlinkins to hear, some other fan would step in and say that it is not okay..

Yes because we all know emotional sports fans act rationally and don’t act without thinking. Especially with the possibility of alcohol involved and the team not doing well.

All I’ll say is I went to a bengals game once as a teenager and a certain bengals cornerback had his family in a section nearby (he wasn’t a big known player and the entire section was wearing his jersey). Of course, he got repeatedly burned. A drunk fan shouted “(name) f***ing sucks. Get him out of the damn game.” To which someone else said “calm down man, his family’s right there.” To which he replied he didn’t give a shit and that their dad sucks. Everyone then laughed and agreed. So yeah, maybe not the same level of heckling as she said she was getting, but nobody did shit or stood up to him either, so I don’t think it would be any different. Nobody did anything to the Dallas stars fan who heckled Elvis (and the audio is there) either.

So yeah, I’m inclined to believe Mrs. Merzlikins, but you know maybe I shouldn’t because that seemed like a pretty rational thing to say.

 

[Cowumbus]

Yes because we all know emotional sports fans act rationally and don’t act without thinking. Especially with the possibility of alcohol involved and the team not doing well.

All I’ll say is I went to a bengals game once as a teenager and a certain bengals cornerback had his family in a section nearby (he wasn’t a big known player and the entire section was wearing his jersey). Of course, he got repeatedly burned. A drunk fan shouted “(name) f***ing sucks. Get him out of the damn game.” To which someone else said “calm down man, his family’s right there.” To which he replied he didn’t give a shit and that their dad sucks. Everyone then laughed and agreed. So yeah, maybe not the same level of heckling as she said she was getting, but nobody did shit or stood up to him either, so I don’t think it would be any different. Nobody did anything to the Dallas stars fan who heckled Elvis (and the audio is there) either.

So yeah, I’m inclined to believe Mrs. Merzlikins, but you know maybe I shouldn’t because that seemed like a pretty rational thing to say.

Saying someone sucks is a lot different than saying that you think the player and their family should die.

In your example someone said something (“calm down”), which I hope would have been the case, so if someone said anything remotely close to what is alleged then I would expect similar.

I have to think if Mrs. Merzlikins was close enough to hear the remark, she could probably identify the general area of where the comment came from. I don’t remember the Jackets ever finding out the person, or the validity of the comments made. I’d have to think that the CBJ value their player’s spouses safety/comfort, and that they could apprehend whoever and investigate thoroughly.

Is that not a logical thought?

 

[Viqsi]

Agreed.

Maybe I’m wrong and people are more terrible than I imagined, but I think if a fan said those things loud enough for Mrs. Merzlinkins to hear, some other fan would step in and say that it is not okay..

I imagine someone might consider stepping in. I'm not sure if they'd actually follow through, and I'm not sure it'd actually make much difference in the end. Either way it's Not Okay regardless.

 

[Monstershockey]

To step in anymore is as easy as texting a rep and they will get the authorities to come in and take care of it. The Browns stadium has a number specifically for this, not sure if the arena does, but we can text a rep and they will take care of it. Nationwide, I would assume, has something in place also.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

To step in anymore is as easy as texting a rep and they will get the authorities to come in and take care of it. The Browns stadium has a number specifically for this, not sure if the arena does, but we can text a rep and they will take care of it. Nationwide, I would assume, has something in place also.

What is that number at Nationwide?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Saying someone sucks is a lot different than saying that you think the player and their family should die.

In your example someone said something (“calm down”), which I hope would have been the case, so if someone said anything remotely close to what is alleged then I would expect similar.

I have to think if Mrs. Merzlikins was close enough to hear the remark, she could probably identify the general area of where the comment came from. I don’t remember the Jackets ever finding out the person, or the validity of the comments made. I’d have to think that the CBJ value their player’s spouses safety/comfort, and that they could apprehend whoever and investigate thoroughly.

Is that not a logical thought?

Well my point is, even if that guy counts as saying something (which he was one of the people laughing), the damage is already done.

So even if someone stepped in or stood up for her/Elvis, it’s not like that just magically makes things better.

 

[Monstershockey]

What is that number at Nationwide?

If you go to TellNWA.com it gives you space to type in what you need and you can send a photo also. Nationwide Arena Security Policies

 

[CBJx614]

To step in anymore is as easy as texting a rep and they will get the authorities to come in and take care of it. The Browns stadium has a number specifically for this, not sure if the arena does, but we can text a rep and they will take care of it. Nationwide, I would assume, has something in place also.

I would imagine 99% of fans at the arena don't have that info and if it was a random person in a crowd it's not exactly easy to spot or know exactly who said what. And as CBJW said, once the words came out of their mouth the damage was done. Nothing that CBJ or CPD do is going to make the Merzlikins feel safe about bringing their child to the rink after that and now that mental toll is on Elvis for every home game.

 

[Jovavic]

now that mental toll is on Elvis for every home game.

Add it to the cannon still traumatizing him